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We arrived midday in Gros Morne. We decided to have an easy day with a boat trip on Western
Brook Pond and some short hikes.
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Western Brook Pond is one of a set of parallel valleys left by the glaciers. Each has the same
form - a narrow fjord-like upper part that flows into a wider part where the glacier escaped
the valley and spread. It is just above sea level. If it was full of ocean, it would be
classified as a fjord. The terminal moraine makes the levee that keeps the ocean out. The
cliffs around it are near the highest point in Newfoundland (815m) so the topographic relief
is spectacular.
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 Sun on Cliffs Ref: 2004-713 |
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The hike-in crossed many boggy areas. Faith and I had fun trying to identify the many
wildflowers on the way in and at the picnic site. We didn't manage to identify them
all. Several of the hawkweeds are difficult to separate as are the goldenrods and ragworts.
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 Eyebright Ref: 2004-715 |
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Just before sunset, we walked along Green's Point. It is geologically interesting because the
strata have been tilted on edge making it easy to study. Unfortunately, we didn't know this
until several days later so walked the "wrong" way on the beach. Still, it was a nice walk
with new flowers and birds for Faith and me, and a place for Lisa to get a bit of exercise and
take in the fresh air, and beautiful scenery (while ignoring flowers and birds alike).
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 Sea-lung or Oysterleaf Ref: 2004-738 |
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The next day we hiked up Gros Morne, which, at 806m, is the second highest point in
Newfoundland.
The hike starts in lush forest, goes through some small boggy areas, then into mid-height
tuck-a-more (krumholtz). The final upward part is a grunt up a gully that could be right out
of the Rockies, taking one into the alpine zone with willow ptarmigan and plants that I
recognize from the Rocky Mountains.
 View of Creek from Look-off Ref: 2004-745 |
 Indian Pipe Ref: 2004-739 |
 The Top Ref: 2004-751 |
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The last day Faith was with us, we did a couple of short walks/hikes. One was through the
tablelands area with some other PODC attendees, Shay and Marcus. The tablelands are formed
from part of the oceanic crust. It was brought to the surface when Africa and North America
collided. The oceanic crust has minerals that inhibit plant growth. As the rock oxidizes, it
forms serpentine, which is named because it looks like snake skin on the rock.
The other was down the Green Gardens Trail to the ocean. It is in green contrast to the
tablelands. There are a couple of camp sites on this trail. It would be fun to spend a night
or two on the cliffs overlooking the ocean.
Near where Faith and Lisa are in the picture to the right, there is a stair case down to
the ocean. It helps to prevent arbitrary scrambling, which threatens the hillside
plants. There is a small herd of feral sheep that live along this stretch of coast.
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 Tablelands Scape Ref: 2004-792 |
 Faith, Lisa, and Cliffs Ref: 2004-808 |
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